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Divorcing When You Can’t Afford It: 4 Tips

Divorce has often been called one of the most expensive steps you might ever take. It’s easy to see how things can get out of control. You have two people who start from a place of conflict, when the marriage is pretty much damaged beyond repair anyway. The conflicts that exist can be too much to handle, and that means many end up going to trial with a couple of expensive lawyers attached, representing the best interests of each client.

The longer these actions extend, the more costlier they become, and that’s without even recognizing the fact that what was once “ours” is now divided between the two of you so that you’re both getting along with less.

People come to our online divorce review site all the time looking for cheaper solutions. Luckily, they exist, but here’s what you’ll have to do to divorce when you can’t afford it.

First, read up on the various forms sites out there.

We feature many of the top sites in our online divorce reviews. Going through each will give you a clear idea of the pros and cons. After looking over these factors, there will be a clearcut service emerge that attracts the most favor. One note here: while affordability is important, don’t let it be the No. 1 guiding factor as some services may cost more than others, but they also may have more features to ease the filing process.

Secondly, choose the site that works best for your needs.

If you’re relatively comfortable reading and understanding legalese, then you may not feel like you need the extra help that a guided forms service provides. However, most applicants will gravitate towards more technology instead of less. Fortunately, as improvements have been made, tech has gotten simpler to use and understand. The guided process often involves just answering questions one at a time, while the program completes the form for you based on your answers.

Thirdly, get your spouse on board.

No DIY divorce is going to end well if only one party is engaged in the process. The other partner must be on board, too, for things to go smoothly. Where there is unresolved conflict, there is the very real possibility that one party will get a lawyer and go after a larger settlement. That means you’ll need to do the same as well.

Finally, schedule the time to do it.

Don’t be intimidated by handling the divorce forms on your own. With a guided process, it costs $200 or less, is almost completely automated, and takes less than an hour to do. From there, it’s just up to you to take it to the county clerk, pay the filing fee, and leave the papers with them. Boom, you’re done.

Divorce can be expensive, yes, but if you and your spouse are committed to keeping things affordable and civil, then it doesn’t have to be.